Prime Minister Stephen Harper has ruffled some feathers in Canada's First Nations communities by changing the title of the federal minister responsible for The Indian Act to Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister from Indian and Northern Affairs Minister.
On that note, here's a helpful reminder distributed earlier today by Inuit Tapirit Kanatami, Canada's national Inuit organization:
A Note on Terminology:
Inuit, Métis, First Nations, and Aboriginal(Adapted from the Report on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples)
The term Aboriginal People refers to the indigenous inhabitants of Canada when describing in a general manner the Inuit, and First Nations (Indians), and Métis people, without regard to their separate origins and identities.
The term Aboriginal Peoples refers to organic political and cultural entities that stem historically from the original people of North America, rather than collections of individuals united by so-called “racial” characteristics. The term includes the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada (see section 35(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982):
(2) In this Act, “aboriginal peoples of Canada” includes the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
Following accepted practice and as a general rule, the term Inuit replaces the term Eskimo. As well, the term First Nation replaces the term Indian.
For greater clarity:
Aboriginal is an all-encompassing term that includes Inuit, First Nations (Indians), and Métis.
“First Peoples” is also an all-encompassing term that includes Inuit, First Nations (Indians) and Métis.
Aboriginal and First Nations are NOT interchangeable terms.
“Aboriginal” and “First Peoples” ARE interchangeable terms.
Inuit is the contemporary term for “Eskimo”.
First Nation is the contemporary term for “Indian”.
Inuit are “Aboriginal” or “First Peoples”, but are not “First Nations”, because “First Nations” are Indians. Inuit are not Indians.
The term “Indigenous Peoples” is an all-encompassing term that includes the Aboriginal or First Peoples of Canada, and other countries. For example, the term “Indigenous Peoples” is inclusive of Inuit in Canada, Maori in New Zealand, Aborigines in Australia, and so on. The term “Indigenous Peoples” is generally used in an international context. The title of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a prime example of the global inclusiveness of the term “Indigenous Peoples”.
Difference between Inuit and Innu:
Innu are a First Nations (Indian) group located in northeastern Quebec and southern Labrador. ITK frequently receives requests regarding Innu, however they are represented by the Innu Nation.
That last note about the Innu Nation is an important one for there are two Innu MPs in the 41st Parliament, one of whom becomes the country's first-ever Innu cabinet minister today. That minister is Peter Penashue (and it's pronouced PEN-ash-away) the newly minted Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada. The other Innu MP is the NDP's Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, a lawyer representing the northern Quebec riding of Manicouagan.